2. Meet the Hawthorne Family - Bianca

 You've been introduced to Kira, now is time to meet Bianca. These two weren't always married, so let's go back to the start of Bianca's story, long before she met Kira... 

Bianca Chadwick comes from a very upper-class, traditional family, who always expected a lot from her. Her parents, Christopher and Lucille, had struggled with having children throughout their marriage, so when Bianca was born, the two treasured her and spoilt her rotten. Although she appreciated why they were doing this, Bianca felt smothered by her parents and as though they would set unrealistic expectations for her. Everything she did just didn't feel like enough to satisfy them. Life felt hard enough through her childhood, and things didn't get better when she became a teenager. Her parents were always trying to set her up with their friends' rich sons, but Bianca couldn't force feelings that weren't there. She responded to her parents by saying she didn't want a relationship this early in her life, and she wanted to have a career and establish herself before settling down. Her parents couldn't understand this, and tried to change Bianca's perspective. They would remind her how much trouble they had conceiving her, and that she shouldn't wait to long to marry and start a family in case she's inherited the issues they had. Bianca felt all they cared about was her giving them grandchildren, and not her happiness. Her parents didn't dispute this, but didn't continue the conversation. It was left there, but they still continued to try and set their daughter up with wealthy young men. 

When she finished school, Bianca was ready to leave home for university, away from her parents' constant nagging about finding a husband. During her years at university, where she studied English Language and Literature, Bianca began to question herself, and her sexuality. She always believed the reason she didn't want to date the men her parents were setting her up with was mostly from defiance and not feeling ready for a serious relationship. But she soon began to have feelings for girl on her course. Feelings she'd never felt or experienced before. These feelings sent her into an emotional turmoil. Was she gay? How would her parents react to this? She didn't know what to do or think, so ignored the feelings and didn't act on them. That was until she finished her first year at university and had a little too much to drink at a party... She began talking to the girl she had a crush on, found out her name was Viola, and that she, too, came for a very traditional family. Viola told Bianca about how her family reacted positively to when she came out as bisexual, and this filled Bianca with confidence and hope. The feelings rushed over her and she couldn't help herself. She lent forward and kissed Viola. It was the best feeling in the world. Bianca felt free.

After their kiss, Viola told Bianca that she didn't want to give her the wrong message. She really liked Bianca, but she was already seeing someone else. Bianca felt upset by this, but understood, and realised something better had come out of it. She had realised that she was attracted to women, and nothing was going to make her settle down and marry a man. Viola's story about her coming out successfully to her family filled Bianca with hope that her parents would react the same. So when she went home for the summer, she sat them down and told them she was gay. 

It didn't go as Bianca had hoped. Her parents didn't react how Viola's did. Her mother cried and her father sat in silence. This is not the life they wanted for their little girl. How were they to have grandchildren now? Bianca was distraught, but tried to stay calm. She explained how she still wanted to have children, how she could adopt. But this wasn't enough for Christopher and Lucille. How were they supposed to continue their family blood if she adopted? This was too far for Bianca, if she were to adopt, they would be just as much her children as if she had carried them herself. She explained how family doesn't necessarily mean genes and biological relations, it is who is there for you and who loves you. And she knew now that her parents weren't there for there, and they couldn't really love her or they would accept her for who she is. They were no longer her family.

Christopher and Lucille immediately cut Bianca off, took away her money and cancelled her university payments. Bianca was alone and had nothing left. She went to the only person she could trust, Viola. Bianca explained everything and cried and cried and cried. And Viola sat and listened. Even if there would never be any romance between the two, Bianca knew she had a true friend who she could rely on. 

Viola introduced Bianca to her parents. who invited her to stay with them in their guest room until she could find her own place. They also offered her a job at their publishing firm, seeing as they knew she had been studying English at university. Thrilled to have a job and a place to live, things started to look better for Bianca. She set out a plan for herself. She would work towards becoming an editor at the publishing firm Viola's parents owned throughout summer, and make sure she put in enough hours to find her own place. She was beyond grateful for what they were doing for her, but she knew she couldn't stay there forever. She knew this would be the summer that changed her life forever...